NEWLY-retired Air Force soldier Allan Cantonjos of Gingoog City picked two youngsters from outside Region 10 for his Prince Alekhine team.
The wise choice reaped the dividends as Cantonjos and the rising Samson Chhiu Chhin Lim from Manila and Christian Gian Karlo Arca from Panabo City went on to pocket the P50,000 top purse of the ASJ-RCM Team Tatluhan Rapid Chess Tournament concluded on Sunday at the Limketkai Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.
With the grizzled Cantonjos scoring 5.5 points on board one, Lim’s 4.5 on board two, and Arca’s dominant 6.0 on board 3, Prince Alekhine tallied 13 match points in seven rounds for the podium’s top honor.
“Mga bata pa unya gagmay’g ratings sa National Chess Federation of the Philippines pero mga tirador na kaayo ang nakuha ni Allan nga kauban sa team. Maayong pagkapili,” arbiter Lorenzo ‘Jun’ Cuizon said of Prince Alekhine that won five matches and gave out two draws en route to the crowning glory.
At least four teams tallied a similar 11 MP points, but since there was no pooling of prizes, RnR Ice Cream Corner of Zamboanga anchored by National Master Joey Albert Florendo, Vince Duane Pascual and John Cyrus Borce bagged the runner-up award worth P25,000.
Third-running Science of Aklan pride Allen Mirano and Cagayan de Oro boys Bryan Jose and Abdul Halil Abdullah got P15,000, while fourth finisher Team Napadaan of MisOr-CDO juniors Aljie Cantonjos, Adrian Othniel Patricio Yulo and Ronnel Cantonjos received P10,000.
Fifth placer Dr. Marlonsky Chess Center made up of Davao City’s Aton brothers in Arena Grandmaster Irwin Aton, Ariel Niño Aton and Warren Aton brought home P5,000.
Tied with identical 10 MP points are EJ Foods of journeymen Allan Salientes, Paciano Gulle, and Jasper ‘Jake the Snake’ Gonzales and Malaybalay CCC A of Jeriel Manlimbana, Mario Cagulada Jr, and Erwin Melendez. They got P3,000 apiece.
Rounding up the top-16 with 9 MP points are Malaybalay CCC B (Randolph Christopher Dalauta, Ronnie Pujas, Ronald Ompoc), G.L.A. Yadz Team (Rommel Ganzon, Norman Longjas, Genesis Apog), ASJ 2 (Ronald Canino, Reynaldo Aba-a, Arian Belly Calido), Golden Sarap (Nazario Ubanan, Cleto Vasquez, Fr. Vic Arellano), Patsada (Eduardo Tare II, Jan Francis Mirano, Jeff Russell Rivera), and El Dumadag (Jerry Dumadag, Harrison Maamo, Danilo Obeso Jr).
Bacolod prides Ellan Asuela (8.5) and Bryle Arellano (7.5) earlier made a 1-2 finish to earn P7,000 and P5,000, respectively, in the individual rapid competition.
“This cash-rich event had been realized partly as a thanksgiving party to our ASJ resident chess coach and trainer Johnnel Balquin as we joined later his birthday celebration,” ASJ adviser Ruel Canino told Gold Star Daily.
Dr. Ariel Potot of the Richess Movement Inc, who bankrolled the two-day chessfest along with the ASJ Forex Global, also came from Cebu to grace the opening rites and even partook in the team event.
“In just my short bonding time with CdeO players, napamahal na sa ako ang City of Gold that I’m seriously thinking of settling here for good,” the chess-loving Potot said.
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